Robert Downey Jr. is formally returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, however, he won’t be reprising his role as Iron Man. Instead, the Oscar-winning actor is playing the enduring Marvel villain Doctor Doom in a new “Avengers” film titled “Avengers: Apocalypse,” which will lead directly into “Avengers: Secret Wars.” Both films will likely be directed by the Russo Brothers, who directed Downey as Iron Man in the Marvel blockbusters “Captain America: Civil Conflict,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” and “Avengers: Endgame.”
It’s not yet known whether Downey is playing a variant of Tony Stark who became Doctor Doom in the MCU multiverse (which seems possible) or the real Victor von Doom from the comics, but one person who seems surprised by the actor’s return to Marvel is his former co-star Gwyneth Paltrow.
“I don’t get it, are you a villain now?” Paltrow asked in the comments section of Downey’s Instagram post announcing his return to Marvel as Doctor Doom.
The Russo Brothers added in the same part of the feedback: “We always said that green is your color…”
Paltrow has been friends with Downey for more than a decade, after the two were forged as Tony Stark and Pepper Potts in 2008’s “Iron Man,” which kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They went on to star in two additional “Iron Man” standalone films together and have appeared alongside each other in several other Marvel films, from “Spider-Man: Homecoming” to “Avengers: Infinity War” and more.
Each actor last appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame,” which notably featured the death of Downey’s Iron Man. During a Q&A with followers on Instagram last year, Paltrow mentioned that her time with Marvel is likely over because “why would you want Pepper Potts without Iron Man?”
Now that Downey is returning to Marvel, would there be room for Paltrow to return as well? That’s anyone’s guess, since he won’t be returning as Iron Man. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige mentioned last December that it was essential for the MCU not to mess up Iron Man’s death in “Avengers: Endgame.”
“We’ve all worked really hard for a few years to get to this, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way,” he told Self-importance Honest at the time.
However, this year, Downey has been quite open in interviews about his interest in rejoining Marvel. Speaking to Esquire following his Oscar win for “Oppenheimer,” the actor was asked if he would return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe now that he is formally an Oscar winner. The actor didn’t hesitate to answer yes.
“Fortunately. It’s part of my DNA,” Downey said. “This position selected me. And look, I always say, ‘By all means, never bet against Kevin Feige.’ It’s a losing bet. He’s the house. He’s always going to win.”
“Avengers: Doomsday” is set to hit theaters on May 1, 2026, followed by the release of “Avengers: Secret Wars” on May 7, 2027.
Opposite Gwyneth Paltrow Reacts to Robert Downey Jr. Liking Doctor Doom in the MCU first appeared on All celebrities.